Recommend me a good audio interface for home recording.

[Keregioz]

For several years I've been using an m-audio audiophile 2496 and I'm thinking of upgrading.

I use it mainly for home recording so my requirements are an XLR input with phantom power, instrument input for direct recording with a guitar/bass, good preamps to record good quality DI tracks and I assume it would be better to use firewire rather than USB.

Right now I'm looking at the presonus firestudio mobile which is slightly expensive but has what I need and it's supposedly a very good quality interface (or not? anyone has experience with it?).

Do you have any suggestions? Maybe there's something a little cheaper just as good with fewer inputs since I rarely use more than 2 inputs.

 

[DanLights]

Focusrite Saffire LE, I always reccomend that one for only guitar/bass/vox recordings, I think it's pretty much what you need

 

[guitarguru777]

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/search.php

 

[Keregioz]

Focusrite Saffire LE, I always reccomend that one for only guitar/bass/vox recordings, I think it's pretty much what you need

That's an interesting suggestion, but it seems it's been discontinued and I can't find it in any online european stores. I could only find the saffire pro 24 which is the same price as the presonus firestudio mobile. I'm between those two at the moment any info about them would be really appreciated.

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/search.php

Oh my GOD! there's a search function on these forums? Amazing!
Seriously though, I did find some helpful info searching the forums but nothing helpful about presonus firestudio mobile (or how it compares to saffire pro 24).

 

[DanLights]

well, you could've posted this in the sticky thread about interfaces, but I'm not one to bash so I just replied what I would.

Strange to see it got discontinued, a buddy bought it from Amazon less than a year ago (America), maybe try to see if you can find one used somehwere? Of course if you got budget for the pro version (which you seem to have) you should check that out, sorry I can't say anything about presonus firestudio mobile cause I've never used one, but the saffire is just sweet, the DI input works marvelous (just so you know, I did the bass for the GUitar Tone Competition 2 with my bass plugged straight into the DI input of my buddie's Saffire), the mic preamps are clean and clear, and it's firewire so I never had any latency issues

 

[Hawkevil]

I am currently using a TC Electronic Konnekt 6.

Sounds perfect for what you want it for!

 

[Keregioz]

well, you could've posted this in the sticky thread about interfaces, but I'm not one to bash so I just replied what I would.

Strange to see it got discontinued, a buddy bought it from Amazon less than a year ago (America), maybe try to see if you can find one used somehwere? Of course if you got budget for the pro version (which you seem to have) you should check that out, sorry I can't say anything about presonus firestudio mobile cause I've never used one, but the saffire is just sweet, the DI input works marvelous (just so you know, I did the bass for the GUitar Tone Competition 2 with my bass plugged straight into the DI input of my buddie's Saffire), the mic preamps are clean and clear, and it's firewire so I never had any latency issues

Yeah, sorry, didn't cross my mind to post in the sticky thread to be honest.

Thanks for all the info. These are the two I'm considering right now, maybe I'm leaning a little more towards the saffire at the moment. I'll wait a little while longer in case anyone else wants to contribute.